Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia, blending modern urban life with rich nomadic traditions. Home to nearly half of the country’s population, the city is the main gateway for international travelers and offers museums, monasteries, restaurants, and shopping centers. For travelers, buying groceries in Ulaanbaatar is easy and convenient. Well-stocked supermarkets such as Nomin, E-Mart, State Department Store, and Minii Delguur offer a wide range of local and imported products, including snacks, bottled water, fruits, ready-to-eat meals, and travel essentials. It’s the best place to stock up on supplies before heading out to rural or Gobi destinations.

Mandal-Govi is the capital town of Dundgovi Province in central Mongolia, located about 260 km south of Ulaanbaatar. It sits in the semi-desert steppe of the Gobi region, known for wide open landscapes, dramatic skies, and a calm, authentic local atmosphere. Mandal-Govi serves as an important transport and supply hub for travelers heading deeper into the Gobi Desert, including sites like Tsagaan Suvarga. The town offers basic comforts, local markets, and a glimpse into everyday life in Mongolia’s central Gobi.

Tsagaan Suvarga (literally “White Stupa”) is a striking natural geological formation in Dundgovi Province of Mongolia’s Gobi region. Despite its name referencing a Buddhist stupa (a sacred monument), the site itself is a natural cliff and escarpment, formed from ancient seabed deposits eroded over millions of years. Its layers of sedimentary clay and minerals have oxidized into vivid bands of white, yellow, red and other hues that change with the lighting. The cliffs can reach up to ~60 m (197 ft) high and extend ~400 m (1,312 ft) long across the flat Gobi plains. From a distance the shapes may resemble ruins or a white stupa, hence the name Tsagaan Suvarga.